Harrison Smith FS/SS Notre Dame

There are probably more athletic and faster safeties in the country, but if he is there in the 3rd or 4th round he could be worth a look.

He is 6'2'' 215lbs, a fifth year senior. The lone Captain last year for the Irish. Started as a linebacker his sophomore year and converted to safety his junior and senior seasons.

This is from Wes Bunting:Those same instincts show up well in the pass game, as he's a bit of a ball hawk who has the ability to routinely get early jumps on the football. Exhibits impressive instincts, which routinely allows him to get early jumps on the football and put himself around the play. Looks a bit tight in his drop, causing him to get upright and he will get elongated/overextended with his footwork when looking to click and close, losing a bit out of his breaks. However, he's consistently moving toward the action before any defender and, once he collects himself, has a better closing burst than given credit for. Lacks great straight-line speed, but looks like a 4.55 guy who plays faster because of instincts.

Another draft site also mentioned his instinct and feel for the game. This is the type of guy that can play special teams right away and will not bust assignments. There are probably highly rated DB's in the class, but what I like is that the kid has a high football IQ.

A guy 6'2, 220 is going to be eaten alive in coverage unless he's an athletic freak and a 4.55 forty time doesn't sound like he is.

I would like to see the combine numbers for him. But what stuck out most about him is that he has a high football IQ and will not bust assignments. Bunting also noted that he has good instincts and can dissect plays quickly. He may not be the athletic freak like some of the other top safeties coming out but being able to sniff out a play while it develops can make up for the 4.55 time he runs in the forty.

I would like to see the combine numbers for him. But what stuck out most about him is that he has a high football IQ and will not bust assignments. Bunting also noted that he has good instincts and can dissect plays quickly. He may not be the athletic freak like some of the other top safeties coming out but being able to sniff out a play while it develops can make up for the 4.55 time he runs in the forty.

The challenge is that you get these guys that are that height and they're long striders who take a lot of time to change direction.

A 4.55 forty is not a deal killer for a safety that will be drafted in the later rounds.

Kam Chancellor ran a 4.62 forty at the combine and a 4.59 at his pro-day. He was selected as a first alternate to the Pro Bowl this year.

Some people want Barry Church to start, but he ran a 4.69 at the combine.

Chancellor played well, no doubt, but these 6'2+ 220lb safeties scare me to death with their inability to cover. In many instances they simply don't have the "turn & run" ability to be decent cover guys. And then with the long legs it takes them longer to get up to speed.

To me cover ability should be first and foremost and then the ability to help via the running game. Dallas has gone the other direction and it's resulted in a bunch of safeties who can't cover.

Chancellor played well, no doubt, but these 6'2+ 220lb safeties scare me to death with their inability to cover. In many instances they simply don't have the "turn & run" ability to be decent cover guys. And then with the long legs it takes them longer to get up to speed.

To me cover ability should be first and foremost and then the ability to help via the running game. Dallas has gone the other direction and it's resulted in a bunch of safeties who can't cover.

I think this goes along with playing safeties that are borderline slow . Have you noticed that most of the safeties are just a step slow ? This whole defense needs speed .

There are probably more athletic and faster safeties in the country, but if he is there in the 3rd or 4th round he could be worth a look.

He is 6'2'' 215lbs, a fifth year senior. The lone Captain last year for the Irish. Started as a linebacker his sophomore year and converted to safety his junior and senior seasons.

This is from Wes Bunting:Those same instincts show up well in the pass game, as he's a bit of a ball hawk who has the ability to routinely get early jumps on the football. Exhibits impressive instincts, which routinely allows him to get early jumps on the football and put himself around the play. Looks a bit tight in his drop, causing him to get upright and he will get elongated/overextended with his footwork when looking to click and close, losing a bit out of his breaks. However, he's consistently moving toward the action before any defender and, once he collects himself, has a better closing burst than given credit for. Lacks great straight-line speed, but looks like a 4.55 guy who plays faster because of instincts.

Another draft site also mentioned his instinct and feel for the game. This is the type of guy that can play special teams right away and will not bust assignments. There are probably highly rated DB's in the class, but what I like is that the kid has a high football IQ.

Love, love this player. IMO Smith has better football instincts and playmaking ability than the more heralded Te'o (and I am a Te'o fan from way back). Smith has great anticipation and first step towards the ball.

This time of the year, Joe fan becomes obsessively enamored with 40 times and lifts, heights and weights. Give me the football player.